Thursday, February 4, 2016

A Prince George’s County Firefighter escaped serious
injuries after falling through a weakened floor of a burning Upper Marlboro
house.On Wednesday, February 3, at
around 5:45 pm, firefighters responded to the 10700 block of Waco Drive for a
911 report of a house fire.The Office
of the Fire Marshal indicated that working smoke alarms alerted the occupants
to the fire and they called 911.

Upon arrival firefighters from the Croom Fire/EMS Station
845 were the first to arrive and encountered a 2-story single family home with
light smoke showing.Ensuring all occupants
were outside of the house firefighters made their way inside to search and extinguish
the fire.

During their cause and origin investigation Fire
Investigators determined the fire was located between the floor joists under
the first floor and above the basement ceiling.As firefighters searched the first floor for the fire one member stepped
onto a burned out weakened portion of the floor and fell through the joists and
into the basement.

Following standard operating procedures the firefighter
radioed his “MAYDAY” message to incident commanders and indicated that he was
not injured and did not need to be rescued.The firefighter made his way back up the basement steps and rejoined his
crew in extinguishing the fire.

After the fire was extinguished the firefighter was checked
out by medics and with the exception of some minor scrapes to his upper body
did not need any hospital treatment.

The fire caused an estimated $15,000 in loss.The cause of the fire remains undetermined.

LODD April 15, 2016

Fire Fighter/Medic Lieutenant John "Skillet" Ulmschneider

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Tragically firefighters will find pets that have been injured in home fires. Sometimes owners are not availiable to bring their pet to a emergency vet or may not have the resources to afford medical care. The Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department and the Anne Arundel County SPCA have teamed up and created a fund whereas medical care for the pet would be covered in part or in full.
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